Foldable rule



OL 1,3, 1931- A A. A. GABRIELS'ON '1,827,585

FOLDABLE RULE Filedv Dec. 8, 1928 Patented Oct. 13, 1931 PATENT OFFICE f i A IRTHUR A. GABRIELSON, OF IEIINNIELAPOLIS,v MINNESOTA FOLDABLE RULE Application led December 8, 1928.

This invention relates to a rule or scale and particularly to a rule or scale of the folded type. While folding rules have heretofore been used, the structures generally have some L objectionable features, among which are that are on the outer side of the rule when the same is in folded condition and the fact that when theruleis laid down flat ona surface 1.2 in extended condition the graduations are not immediately adjacent said surface. Some folding rules are made so that the sides do not ycome into one plane when in extended posiy tion and other common forms of rules require :1.5 more than one kind of hinge.

yIt is an object of the present invention to provide a rule comprising sections hinged together kso as to be folded-.to compact form, saidsections being triangular. in transverse Itis another object of the invention to provide a foldable rule comprisinghinged sections, which sectionsare of triangular shape in transverse section and adapted to fold into 2355. the form of a prism, said sections being symmetrically placed with respect to the axis of said prism.

Y It is still another object of the invention to provide a foldable rule comprising sections 290 of triangular shape in transverse section hinged together at their ends with hinges all of similar type, said sections being foldable together, with two of the sides of each section disposed radially about the axis of a prism` formed by the folded sections.

' Itis stillafurther ob]ect of the 'inventiony f5 Y tions disposed outwardly.

These and other ob'ects and advantages of theinvention will be fully set; forth in the yfollowing description madeV in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which lilereference, characters refer to similarparts Serial No. 324,624.

vrule in folded condition;

Fig. Q is a view in side elevation of the rule in partly extended position; the graduations and indications on the rule Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the rule in fully extended position;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the rule;

Fig.,5 is an end view of the rule at the end opposite that shown that in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a verticalsection taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows, other portions of the rule being indicated by the dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is aview in side elevation of a modified form;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the rule shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is an end view of the rule shown in Fig. 7 showing the end opposite that shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figures 1 to 6, a rule is shown comprising a plurality of sections 10. While the number l of sections may be varied, in the embodiment of the invention illust-rated, four sections are shown. The sections 10 are similar and are triangular in transverse section. Each section has a side 10a and two other sides 10b the'latter being similar. In the rule illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the sides 10b are disposed at an angle of substantially 90 degrees with each other and each makes an angle of substantially degrees with the side 10a. The sides 10b are provided with graduations 11- and with indications 12, shown as numerals.`l .While an desired graduations and indications may e used, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the rule is graduated to represent inches and parts thereof, which inches are designated by numerals, the rule shown in sections 1-6 inclusive having four sections each six inches long, thus making a rule 24 inches long when extended. Each section 10 is hinged to another section by hinges 13these hinges being disposed'at the ends of the sections and it is pointed ont that all of the hinges 13 are of similar con struction. The hinges 13 are so disposed that when the rule is in extended position as shown in Fig. 3 the sides 10a are all disposed in one common plane, forming an uninterrupted surface which can 'thus be laid vdown flat on y another surface.

The sections 10 intermediate their ends and upontheir inner edges'are provided with grooves 10c which, together,

form Va cylindrical recess when 'the rule .is

folded, in which a pencil 14 may bedispose'd, resilient clips y15 being inserted in one ofthe ysections for holding Vthe pencil and betweenV 'enter-,holes 17' formed adjacent the ends of ltheother .two sections when the rule is in folded condition. Another pin 18 is disposed in the side 10b of one of the sections carrying the pins 16 and in the other` side 10b of said section from'tliat `carrying the'pin 16 and said pin 18 is adapted to enter av hole 19 Y in the other section havingthe pin V16-therein.

n `In operation the'rule will be eXtended asV shown in Fig. 3`whenit is 'to be used'. The

sides 10a, as above. stated, open intoVV one planejandthe.rule'canbe laid flaton the surj face where the measuringisto be done. It will be seen that when the ruleis so disposed Y c the graduations 11 `wvillbe immediately'adjacent the surfacefon which the rule is resting v,and af-,markxcan beveasily andaccurately rvmade' on the surface in line with these egradj nations. When-the rule is in folded condi- I V[tion v-itfnot' yonly Vis very 'compact,'but7the gra'duations 11 and indications 12 'are at the innerside ofthe rulerywhere they vwill be protected and not be.' rubbed bythe "clothing h or engagement with other objects. The'grad- ,Y nationsand indications will thus-bekept in 4o clean and fresh condition. The rule can be quicklyfolded by swinging the sections about the hingel shown at the left of Fig..2 to

' bring the rule into thel condition shownfin Fig. 2 and by-folding the sections together in pairs about the hingesshown in the center 'f of Fig. 2. 'The rule can be extended by reversing this operation.V When the rule isin folded condition the pins-lventer the holes "17- and thep'in`18 enters vthe hole 19. 'These pins prevent any radial Vshifting 'of the 'secseen that the rule, when folded,j is'inV the transverse section .of which .isa regularr Vhexjago'n.v Inother respectsltherule will "belike' .G5 Y l that'shownr'in'lFigs. 1'to 6.

of similar conqj The sections areiconnectedby hinges2'1' yat their 'ends disposed as shown in Figs.v 8 and9 so that f Y said vrule when folded forms Ha' prism, thel Vthe hinges shown at the left hand side and upper right handcorner of F ig. 8. The rule will then' be 'infe'x'tended" position with sides ofthe sections shown 1n the outer sides of Figs. 8 and 9 in one plane. The graduations will .be .on the Vsides sof. the sections 20V which .are atthe inner sidefof the rule when in Vfolded condition, as already explained in connectionwith Figs. -1 to 6.

` F rom theab'ove description it is seen ythat l Vapplicant has provided a simple and iniproved lstructure 'of 4 folding rule. The rule can be made by. using hinges all of one type, the

lgraduatio'ns are conveniently disposed for markingthe surface to'be measured! and the raduations are protected whenthe rule is in olded condition. rThe device can-bem'ade `lof convenient size 'and of easilyprocurable material' Thesame has `been'aniply demonstrated inactual practice and found very'successful and ecient. f l

It will, of course, be yunderstood that variouschanges may be'madein the form, details, proportions and-arrangement of the parts, without departing from vthe scope 'of applicants invention, which, generally stated, .consists in a device capable of carryingoutthe tov be 'objects above/set forth, in the novel,l parts and 'combinationsiof partsfdisclosed and "delined'in theappended claims. v

What is claimed isz-V "f j 1. A lfoldable rule comprisingaplurality of elongated sections, ueach Vof triangular shape in` transverse section, andgh'in'ges Vcon'- Vne'cting theV ends'ofsaid sections so that when the rule is, in foldedjcondition'the same com- :prises a regular polygon and the angles of #said sections having verticesv ata-said edges equallingrsubstantially 360".v divided-by the number of sections in crosssection with certain longitudinal edgesofsaid sections dis- 'Hposed adjacent the centerl of-said'polygon. tions yalong ,their engaging sides. Itwill befY A 2. A yfoldalole rule comprising a plurality vof :elongatedy sections, v'each triangular 1 in transverse section, a plurality/*ofY hinges at opposite endsof said rule respectively when folded, saidfhinges" connecting the adjacent ends of:v certain of said. sections, wherebysaid 'sections whenv in aniextended"positionv have corres vonding sides. disposedfin one uninter-V Yrupte planev surface-and1 whenjinVv foldedl lcondition .form a vpfism said sides forming theouter sidesthereof.. j

A foldable-rule comprising aplurality j off'elongated sections, each'of triangular kshape in transverse.section,ieach of said sections lhaving 4graduations 'onftwo adjacent l vertices substantially sides thereof extending to the ed s of said sides remote from their common e ge, hinges connecting said sections at their ends so that said sections fold into a prism, with said sections having theV sides thereof carrying the graduations extending in radial planes at 0pposite sides of the axis of said prism.

4. A foldable rule comprisin a plurality of elongated sections, each o triangular shape in transverse section each havin graduations on tWo of the adjacent sides t ereof, which graduations extend to the ed es of said sides remote from their common e ge, hin es connecting the ends of said sections and isposed relatively to the sides of said sections so that said sections fold into substantially the form of a prism a cross section of which, at right angles to its axis, is a regular polygon With the sides other than those carrying the graduations forming the outer sides of said prism. l

5. lA foldable rule comprising a plurality of elongated sections, each of triangular .shape in transverse section, and similar hinges connecting the ends of said sections so that said sectionsfold into the form of a prism a cross section of which, at right angles to its longitudinal axis, is a regular polygon, said hinges being disposed at opposite sides of said rule respectively, when folded. l

6. A foldable rule comprising a plurality of elongated sections, said sections being conv nectedl by hinges so as to be extended into a straight line, said sections each being of triangular shape in cross section and having similar angles at one corner each equal to 360 divided by the number of sections, said sections being foldable into a rule having substantially the length of one section with said angles directed inwardly and having their at the axis of a regular polygon.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ARTHUR A. GABRIELSON. 

